WO2008082356A1

WO2008082356A1 - An apparatus for heating a part of a saddle

Info

Publication number: WO2008082356A1
Application number: PCT/SE2008/000002
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anders Sterner
Original assignee: Snowolverine Ab
Priority date: 2007-01-02
Filing date: 2008-01-02
Publication date: 2008-07-10

Abstract

The present invention encompasses an apparatus (1) for heating a part (2) of a saddle, provided for and belonging to a snow scooter (3) while utilising excess heat, prevailing within a cooling water body (4a) for a combustion engine (4) provided for the snow scooter, and where a heating loop (6) intended for a water-borne heat is adapted, via a first water-borne part loop (6a), to be able to lead excess heat through said part of a saddle (2) and adapted, via a second parallel-related water-borne part loop (6b), to be able to lead excess heat through one or more coordinated tubular chassis parts ('Cl'). There is connected to an inlet (6a') for the first water-borne part loop (6a) and to an inlet (6b') for the second water-borne part loop (6b) and its tubular chassis part ('Cl'), a three-way temperature sensitive and -controllable regulator valve (7), the valve being adapted, at a sensed (8) low temperature for said part of a saddle (2) to guide over a relevant excess heat to said first water-borne part loop (6a) and to the part of a saddle (2) and, at an adapted and set higher temperature for the part of a saddle (2), to control said three-way regulator valve (7) in order to lead excess heat also to and/or exclusively to said second part loop (6a) and its tubular chassis parts ('Cl').

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: An apparatus for heating a part of a saddle

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates in general to an apparatus for heating a part of a saddle, disposed and belonging to a saddle or a seat for a snow scooter or snowmobile.

The apparatus is intended, for the disclosed heating, to utilise prevailing excess heat, relating to and within a cooling water body (water/antifreeze (glycol) mixture) for a combustion engine belonging to the snow scooter, and where a heating loop intended for water-borne heat is adapted, via a first water-borne part loop, to lead excess heat through said part of a saddle and adapted, via a second water-borne part loop to lead excess heat through one or more tubular chassis parts coordinated in series and/or parallel.

The present invention has a manifest object to considerably simplify the piping for heating loops utilised here intended for cooling water, or water/glycol mixtures, and to make for a relatively rapid heating of the part of the saddle on starting the combustion engine.

The present invention is further based on the feature of causing the snow scooter to be constructed from a number of tubular chassis parts, which parts are also intended to be subject to heating and thereby also to conduct and interconnect water-borne (water/glycol mixture borne) water loops.

BACKGROUND ART

Methods, arrangements and constructions relating to the above disclosed technical nature are previously known in a plurality of different embodiments.

As a first example of the state of the art, mention might be made of an apparatus for heating a part of a saddle, provided for and belonging to a tractor, while utilising excess heat, occurring within a cooling water body for a combustion engine disposed on the tractor, and where a heating loop intended for water-borne heat is adapted, via a water-borne heating loop section, to conduct excess heat through said part of a saddle which is connected in series with a water-borne heating loop section for a foot support. The hot water is here coordinated with a water cooling heat exchanging (air/water) package.

Reference is here made to the contents of Patent Specification CH-319 818-A, from 1957.

The contents of Patent Specification DE-2 220 009-A also disclose and describe a similar arrangement for heating up a chair seat with its back support in a vehicle with the aid of water-borne heat from a combustion engine, which generates heat, with the aid of a water-borne heating loop, directly connected to the water cooling system for the vehicle and connected in parallel with a water-borne heating element.

Here, there is disclosed the utilisation of a coupling means for blocking and/or conducting hot cooling water from and to different heat generating means.

Considering further the properties associated with the present invention, it might be mentioned that it is previously known in the art, from Patent Specification US-2006/0 071 466-A1 to structure a chassis for a vehicle and where the chassis displays first and second parallel chassis beams in order thereby to be able to coordinate and protect requisite piping for requisite various auxiliary systems.

As regards application in snow scooters, reference may be made to the contents of Patent Specification USPS 5,944,133-A, where a lightweight chassis construction is shown and described with reinforcing elements where they may serve as series- connected heat exchangers for the water-borne cooling system, connected to the combustion engine.

A cooling system, in accordance with the present invention, is based on the feature that a water-borne system intended for cooling is to cool the combustion engine and will be heated by the engine as well cooled, via a thermostat, in a heat exchange system, of per se known design and construction. The water intended for the cooling is fed into the cooling ducts of the combustion engine as cooled hot water and is discharged out of the engine as heated hot water during circulation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Taking into account the circumstance that the technical considerations which a person skilled within the art must do in order to be able to offer a solution to one or more set technical problems is on the one hand initially a necessary insight into the measures and/or the sequence of measures to be implemented and on the other hand, a necessary selection of the means required, in view hereof the following technical problems are likely to be relevant in the evolution of the subject matter of the present invention.

Taking into account the state of the art as described above, it is probably therefore likely to be seen as a technical problem to be able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order in an apparatus, for heating of a part of a saddle given and belonging to a snow scooter, while utilising excess heat prevailing within a cooled water body for a combustion engine disposed for the snow scooter, and where a heating loop, intended for water-borne heat, is adapted, via a first water-borne part loop, to lead a first excess heat through said part of a saddle and adapted, via a second water-borne part loop, to conduct a second excess heat through one or more coordinated and tubular chassis parts, to disclose a simple piping with one or more simple three-way regulator valves, in order on the one hand to be able to heat the engine to its operational temperature or thereabouts and on the other hand to supply thus heated cooling water to the saddle, in order to heat up the part of the saddle to a preselected temperature.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order, to an inlet for the second water-borne part loop and its tubular chassis parts and/or the first water-borne part loop, to connect a three-way temperature sensitive regulator valve, the valve being adapted, on a sensed low temperature for said part of a saddle and operational temperature for the engine, to guide over heat to said first water-borne part loop and to the part of the saddle and, at an adapted and set higher temperature for the part of a saddle, to control said three- way regulator valve in order to conduct excess heat besides to said second part loop and its coordinated tubular chassis parts.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause a temperature sensitive sensor to be coordinated with said part of a saddle and, for instance electrically, coupled to said regulator valve and controllable by a regulator equipment or regulator circuit.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause said three-way regulator valve to be adapted, via a the temperature sensor and a regulator circuit within the regulator equipment, to maintain constant a selected set temperature for the part of the saddle.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures and considerations which will be required in order to cause said regulator circuit or a thermostat to be adapted principally to cause temperature control of the operating temperature of the combustion engine, but without air/water heat exchanger associated with the engine, and that all excess heat, via a three-way regulator valve, is to be adapted principally to be supplied to the part of the saddle and secondly via said second regulator valve to be supplied to the second part loop and the tubular chassis parts belonging thereto and interconnected. SOLUTION

In such instance, the present invention takes as its point of departure the prior art as disclosed by way of introduction and builds on an apparatus for heating a part of a saddle, provided for and belonging to a snow scooter, while utilising excess heat, prevailing within a cooling water body for a combustion engine provided for the snow scooter, and where a heating loop intended for water-borne heat is adapted, via a first water-borne part loop, to conduct excess heat through said part of a saddle and adapted, via a second water-borne part loop, to conduct excess heat through one or more coordinated and tubular chassis parts.

In order to be able to resolve one or more of the above disclosed technical problems, the present invention more specially discloses thus that the prior art is to be supplemented with the feature that there is connected to an inlet for the second water-borne part loop and its tubular chassis parts a three-way temperature sensitive regulator valve, the valve being adapted, at a sensed low temperature for said part of a saddle, to guide over a relevant excess heat to said first water-borne part loop and to the part of a saddle and, at an adapted and set higher temperature for the part of a saddle, to control the regulator valve so as to conduct excess heat besides to said second part loop and its allocated tubular chassis parts.

As proposed embodiments, falling within the scope of the fundamental concept of the present invention, it is moreover disclosed that a temperature sensitive sensor is to be coordinated with said part of a saddle and directly or indirectly be coupled, (via the regulator equipment and its regulator circuit), to said regulator valve.

It is further disclosed that said regulator valve is to be adapted, via the sensor and the regulator circuit, to maintain constant a selected and set temperature for the part of the saddle.

Said regulator circuit within the regulator equipment or a thermostat can further be adapted principally to temperature control towards and to the operating temperature for the combustion engine and that all excess heat, via an actuable regulator valve, is to be adapted principally to be supplied to the part of a saddle and secondly, via the regulator valve, to be supplied to the second part loop and the tubular chassis parts.

ADVANTAGES Those advantages which may principally be deemed to be characteristic of the present invention and the special significative characterising features disclosed thereby are that there have hereby been created the preconditions in order, in an apparatus, for heating a part of a saddle provided for and belonging to a snow scooter, while utilising excess heat, prevailing within a cooling water body for a combustion engine provided for the snow scooter, and where a heating loop intended for water-borne heat is adapted, via a first water-borne part loop, to conduct excess heat through said part of a saddle and adapted, via a second water-borne part loop, to conduct excess heat through one or more tubular chassis parts, to disclose the coupling arrangement that there shall be connected, to an inlet for the second water- borne part loop and its tubular chassis parts and/or the first water-borne part loop, a three-way temperature sensitive regulator valve, the valve being adapted, via regulator equipment and/or its regulator circuit, at a sensed low temperature for said part of a saddle, to guide over relevant heat to said first water-borne part loop and to the part of a saddle and, at an adapted and set higher temperature for the part of a saddle, to control the valve in order to conduct excess heat besides and/or only to said second part loop and its coordinated tubular chassis parts.

That which may principally be deemed to be characteristic of the present invention is disclosed in the characterising clause of appended Claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

One currently proposed embodiment, displaying the significative characterising features associated with the present invention, will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow for purposes of exemplification, with reference to the accompanying Drawing, where: Fig. 1 shows in principle the connection engineering construction of an apparatus, for heating of a part of a saddle belonging to a snow scooter while utilising excess heat prevailing within a circulating cooling water for a combustion engine adapted for a snow scooter; Fig. 2 is a view obliquely from above in order to illustrate how the cooling water may flow through a short part of the chassis of the vehicle in order thereafter to be conducted into a heating loop positioned in the saddle part of the vehicle and where a three-way regulator valve and a hose are adapted to connect the heating loop of the saddle part to the tubular chassis of the vehicle; Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the underside of the saddle and shows how a heated cooling water is led from the one tubular portion of the chassis into the heating loop of the saddle part, through said hose; and

Fig. 4 is a detailed view showing the underside of the saddle and is intended to illustrate how cooling water cooled by the saddle is led out of the heating loop of the saddle and recycled to one of the tubular portions of the chassis, through an outlet hose.

DESCRIPTION OF CURRENTLY PROPOSED EMBODIMENT

By way of introduction, it should be emphasised that in the following description of one currently proposed embodiment, which displays the significative characterising features associated with the invention and which is clarified by means of the figures illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, we have selected terms and a special terminology with the intention in such instance principally of clarifying the inventive concept proper.

However, in this context it should be observed that expressions selected here should not be seen as restrictive exclusively to the terms utilised and selected here but it should be understood that every such selected term is to be interpreted so that it in addition will be able to encompass all technical equivalents which function in the same or substantially the same manner, in order in such instance to be able to attain the same or substantially the same intention and/or technical effect. With reference to accompanying Figs. 1 to 4, there are thus shown schematically and in detail the basic preconditions for the present invention and where the significative properties associated with the invention have been given concrete form by means of the currently proposed embodiment described in greater detail hereinbelow.

Thus, Fig. 1 illustrates in overview and block diagram form an apparatus 1 for heating of a part 2 of a saddle, provided for and belonging to a snow scooter 3, while utilising excess heat, prevailing within a cooling water body for a four cylinder combustion engine 4 disposed for the snow scooter. Naturally, the engine may be designed with fewer cylinders than those illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 is intended to illustrate a per se known circuit or circulating system 4a cooling the combustion engine 4 with a thermostat 4b and a heat exchanger 4c in the form of an air/water cooler.

The thermostat 4b can be replaced by a first three-way valve 4b' which can be controlled from regulator equipment 5 with a regulator circuit 5 a, in a manner which will be described in greater detail hereinbelow.

Such a control may then advantageously take place so that all heat from the cooling water can be led directly to a connected-in heating loop 6 alternatively carry out a regulation only after the combustion engine 4 displays its allocated operational temperature, via the cooling system 4a.

Apart from that heat which is generated within the combustion engine 4 and which is taken care of and cooled in an intimated heat exchanger 4c, excess heat occurs here which is to be utilised within the present invention which will be described in greater detail hereinbelow.

There also falls within the scope of the present invention an apparatus without air/water cooler 4c and without regulation equipment 5 and a regulator circuit 5a, of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, where instead utilised valves 4b' and 7 can be structured as thermostats (4b).

At a prevailing operational temperature, or before, the first three-way valve 4b' is activated activated, so as to deviate heated cooling water, direct via a conduit "Ll", to the heating loop 6 intended for water-borne heat.

This heating loop 6 is adapted, via a first water-borne part loop 6a, to be able to lead excess heat through said part of a saddle 2 and adapted, via a second water-borne part loop 6b, to be able to lead excess heat through one or more coordinated and united tubular chassis parts "Cl".

A second three-way valve 7 is actuable, as from the regulator equipment 5 and its regulator circuit 5 a, in order initially to lead heated cooling water only through the first part loop 6a until the temperature 8 within the part 2 of the saddle displays a predetermined value.

Thereafter, the second three-way valve 7 is actuated, such as from the regulator equipment 5 and its regulator circuit 5a, in order to lead heated cooling water over to the second water-borne part loop 6b and its allocated tube section "Cl".

There is connected to an inlet 6b' for the second water-borne part loop 6b and its tubular chassis parts "Cl" said second three-way temperature sensitive regulator valve 7, the valve being adapted, at a sensed low temperature for said part of a saddle 2, to guide over a relevant excess heat to said first water-borne part loop 6a and to the part of the saddle 2 and, at an adapted and set higher temperature for the part of the saddle 2, to control the second valve 7 in order to lead excess heat also to or exclusively to said second part loop 6b and its tubular chassis parts "Cl".

A temperature sensitive sensor 8 is coordinated with said part of a saddle 2 and can be electrically connected to said regulator equipment 5 and its regulator circuit 5a, via an electric connection conductor 8 a. Said regulator valve 7 is adapted, via the sensor 8 and the regulator circuit 5a, to maintain constant a selected temperature for the part of the saddle 2, by principally controlling the setting of the valve 7 via an electric connection conductor 7 a.

Said regulator circuit 5a can be adapted principally to make for the temperature control of the operational temperature of the combustion engine 4 and that all excess heat, via the second regulator valve 7 is to be adapted principally to be supplied to the part of the saddle 2 and secondly, via the second regulator valve 7, to be supplied to the second part loop 6b and the tubular chassis parts "Cl".

Fig. 2 now shows a view obliquely from above and how heated cooling water may flow through a part "C2" of the chassis of the vehicle and be led into a heating loop 2a, placed in the part of the saddle 2 of the vehicle and where a three-way regulator valve 7 and a hose "C3" are adapted to connect the heating loop of the part of the saddle 2.

Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of the underside of the saddle 2 and shows how heated hot water is led from the short tube portion "C2" of the chassis into the heating loop 2a of the saddle through said hose "C3", via an obscured regulator valve.

Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of the underside of the saddle and is intended to illustrate how cooling water cooled in the saddle 2 is led out of the heating loop 2a of the saddle 2 and returned to the tube portion "C5" of the chassis through an outlet hose "C4".

The present invention can thus build a directly connecting to and utilisation of the cooling circuit 4a of the modern snow scooter engine 4 with thermostat 4b and will then be applicable to liquid cooled two-stroke- and four-stroke engines, where the operating temperature at normal operation and loading lies at approx. 90°C. This temperature can be kept constant in the engine 4 via the thermostat 4b which regulates cooling wholly, partly through the cooling circuit 4c, and wholly or partly through the chassis "Cl" and/or the cooling loop 2a. The excess heat which normally through the cooling circuit is emitted to the ambient air "A" can according to the principles of the invention, instead be utilised to heat the saddle 2 in that one or more heating loops 2a are led through the saddle 2 or through the chassis, through snow scooter supporting and/or chassis bearing tubular parts dimensioned herefor, with an air/water heat exchanger in the foot portions 10, 11.

The heat in the saddle 2 can now be regulated with a three-way regulator valve 7, the prevailing excess of excess heat, such as an excessively hot saddle surface, can in such event be recycled back to the cooling system 4a, 6 and/or only to the part loop 6b.

It has proved that this saddle heating will be specially suitable in snow scooters or other vehicles where the chassis consists of a tube construction and which can be connected in as an integrated part of the cooling system 4a, 6.

The present invention, which is to relate to "An apparatus for heating a part of a saddle" may advantageously be coordinated with the contents in a copending Patent Application filed on today's date and entitled "An arrangement in a windscreen", a copending Patent Application filed on today's date and entitled "A cooling water system intended for a snow scooter" and a copending Patent Application filed on today's date and entitled "A saddle-like seating construction for a vehicle".

Thus, the descriptions, Claims and Drawings are to be considered as constituting a part of this description.

The present invention is naturally not restricted to the embodiment disclosed above by way of example, but may undergo modifications without departing from the scope of the inventive concept as disclosed in the appended Claims.

In particular, it should be observed that every illustrated unit and/or circuit may be combined with every other illustrated unit and/or circuit within the scope in order to be able to attain the desired technical function.

Claims

1. An apparatus for heating a part of a saddle provided for and belonging to a snow scooter, during utilisation of excess heat, prevailing within a cooling water body for a combustion engine provided for the snow scooter, and where a heating loop, intended for water-borne heat, is adapted, via a first water-borne part loop, to be able lead excess heat through said part of a saddle and adapted, via a second water-borne part loop, to be able to lead excess heat through one or more coordinated tubular chassis parts, characterised in that there is connected to an inlet for the first water- borne part loop and to an inlet for the second water-borne part loop and its tubular chassis part a three-way temperature sensitive and controlled regulator valve, the valve being adapted, at a sensed low temperature for said part of a saddle, to guide over a relevant excess heat to said first water-borne part loop and to the part of a saddle and that, at an adapted and set higher temperature for the part of a saddle, to control said three-way regulator valve so as to lead excess heat only and/or also to said second part loop and its tubular chassis parts.

2. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that a temperature sensitive sensor is coordinated with said part of a saddle and electrically coupled and connected to a regulator equipment and a regulator circuit.

3. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said regulator valve is adapted (via the sensor and the regulator circuit) to maintain constant a selected temperature for the part of a saddle.

4. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that said regulator circuit or a thermostat is adapted principally to temperature control the operational temperature of the combustion engine and that all excess heat, via said regulator valve, is adapted principally to be supplied to the part of a saddle and secondly, via said regulator valve, to be supplied to the second part loop and the tubular chassis parts.